, they came up against a concealed field gun defended by approximately 100 japanese . after the lead matilda ' s machine gun jammed , the field gun opened fire on it , damaging it and wounding its crew . moving around the stricken tank , the second matilda , armed with a how ##itzer , opened fire and destroyed the field gun before sweeping the japanese defenders from the position . that night , the japanese artillery opened up on the australian position with a heavy barrage , and the following morning put in a company @ - @ sized counter @ - @ attack . the fighting lasted for over two @ - @ and @ - @ a @ - @ half hours , but
, they came up against a concealed field gun defended by approximately 100 japanese. after the lead matilda's machine gun jammed, the field gun opened fire on it, damaging it and wounding its crew. moving around the stricken tank, the second matilda, armed with a howitzer, opened fire and destroyed the field gun before sweeping the japanese defenders from the position. that night, the japanese artillery opened up on the australian position with a heavy barrage, and the following morning put in a company @ - @ sized counter @ - @ attack. the fighting lasted for over two @ - @ and @ - @ a @ - @ half hours, but